Matthew Morrison Sounds Off on Boy Bands, Adam Levine, and His New Broadway-Themed Album

Matthew Morrison looks like the quintessential band boy—6-foot-tall build, Jersey Shore-ready abs, twinkly blue eyes, a chiseled chin, a dimpled grin, and a very Justin Timberlake-esque mop of thick curls. But after we chatted with the Glee actor and Broadway star (who actually admitted that he was in six bands), we learned that he's more than a prettier-than-average triple threat. In fact, if he could do anything besides sing, dance, and act, he would be a midwife (but more on that later).

When his new album, Where It All Began, debuts on June 4, Mr. Schue admirers will see a more sophisticated side of Morrison as he covers classic Broadway songs, such as "Guys and Dolls" and "Luck Be a Lady," with his own spin.

To add to the mix, the album was produced by Phil Ramone (who co-founded A & R Recording) under pop-rocker Adam Levine's label, 222 Records. Come March 28, you can catch him on an informal tour to promote the album, kicking off at Boston Pops Orchestra before heading to 54 Below in NYC, the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., and the London Symphony Orchestra.

When the charming actor stopped by our offices this week, we were able to quiz him on all things Broadway, how he connected with Levine, and why he thinks Michelle Obama is the coolest person on the planet.

Tell us about your new album, 'Where It All Began.'

This has been a passion project for me—I hate that term it's so cliché "passion project"—but it really has been that. It's called Where It All Began because where it all began for me was right here in New York. Even before that, I grew up listening to Broadway show tunes. These are more than Broadway show tunes, these are songs that every great vocalist—Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin—have all sung, and I'm just trying to put my own spin on it.

How did you choose the tracks?

I went way back to Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, some of the more recent stuff, and everything in between to try to find great songs. I looked at songs that I'd never heard of before. I wanted to pick songs that I could sing really well and have a lot of movement in them. My idol is Gene Kelly, and my live show has a lot of dance elements in it. So I incorporated a lot of dance breaks within the songs orchestrally. These songs are mostly done with a big, 60-piece orchestra. I feel like a general in an army.

Do you have back-up dancers?

I don't have backup dancers. It's me just shaking my thing on my own. You know, audience members should feel free to get up and dance as well.

How did you take these songs and modernize them, or on the flip side, pay tribute to them?

I just took the classic bones of these songs and tried to drape my own framework over it. I wanted to keep some of the songs the same, and I didn't change many lyrics. Like, "On the Street Where You Live," (My Fair Lady) it is typically a ballad, but I added a little more of a swing to it, so it moves a bit. Then, I have this great dance break in the middle; and after it, I come out huffing and puffing, trying to finish the song out—but I feel so alive when I do it.

How do you train to sing and dance at the same time?

I'm a big runner. I run about 40 miles a week, just because I love running. When I have shows coming up, I'll sing while I run.

So we could find you running through the streets singing?

You can, later today or tomorrow…I mostly run in Central Park. Sometimes I'll do the loop all the way to the end of the park, go over to the west side highway, and run all the way downtown.

Do people ever stop you when they see you whizzing by?

That's the best thing about running, as soon as someone notices me, I'm gone.

What's your favorite song on 'Where It All Began?'

"On the Street Where You Live" is very personal to me because, it is something I have sang for every single audition I've ever had in my life, including Glee. I also do this six-minute West Side Story medley. It has like five different songs including "Tonight," "Cool," "Jet Song," and "Maria."

Sounds like a good ole fashioned 'Glee' mashup!

Yeah, but they do like two songs, I'm doing like six. I was inspired by a lot of different performances I've seen. Sammy David Jr. did a West Side Story medley with just a bongo, but I just did a full orchestration.

We both live in L.A., and we've run into each other at a few things. Adam is this pop-rock star, and you would never associate him with this [style of] music. He is actually such a big fan of that genre, and he has done a few recordings himself, like Frank Sinatra's "I Get a Kick Out of You." He said, "I want to do your album," and he kept his word.

Is he your voice coach, like if you were on 'The Voice?'

The great thing about Adam is he's an artist himself, and he knows how an artist should be treated. He really treated me with such respect he gave me such free reign to do whatever I want to do. He came into the studio maybe three times to check in on the process, see how it was going, and he was just blown away by it. We just talked music, he was wonderful.

Do you watch 'The Voice?'

I do. I don't watch every episode, but I think he's great, he's very witty in his white shirts. I love the camaraderie between him and Blake.

Which 'Glee' cast member do you think would make a great contestant on 'The Voice?'

I think one of the most talented people on Glee is Amber Riley. I think she would kill The Voice and take it all the way.

We saw you on tour two summers ago with NKOTBSB in Atlantic City, NJ….

I'm sorry [laughs].

Are you a boy-band fan? You did recently did a cover "No Strings Attached" and "Bye Bye Bye" on 'Glee'...

I'm not going to lie, I was a big 'N Sync fan back in the day…I've actually been in six boy bands in my life. Most of them were spoofs. Actually, the first job I ever had in NYC was on the Late Show with David Letterman. They put together this fake boy band in 1999 called Fresh Step, like the kitty litter. That's how I got my nickname, Matty Fresh. Then I was part of this real boy band called LMNT (element) because you know, it's cool with the initials. I called it lament. There is always going to be a popular time for boy bands, and then they will be so not cool anymore.

Do you think boy bands are having a moment right now?

They are having a big moment right now. The souvenirs stores in NYC have all One Direction T-shirts, and I was in London last week, they are still the biggest thing over there.

What do you hope the fate of Mr. Schue and Emma is?

We've been playing around with this for like four years, so I hope we get married. It would also be great to get into Mr. Schue as a parent…They would have very sterile babies! I feel like he is a dad in a sense to a lot of his Glee kids, but I think he would take it to another level with his own.

How does your hair routine differ from his hair routine?

Well they actually put like, products and stuff like that in my hair. I put Lubriderm in my hair, which is a body moisturizer.

Why did you start doing that?

I ran out of [hair product] one day, and Lubriderm was the only thing that was around, so I put a couple squirts into my hair. It was the best it ever looked. I said this on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Lubriderm sent me like two boxes, but it takes me like a year to go through one bottle.

You could give it to your friends?

No, I'm stingy.

Who cut your hair?

Kelley Mitchell, she works on Glee. That's the best part about being an actor, you get free haircuts.

What's it like to work with Jane Lynch weekly? Do you guys crack up when you're delivering some of those ridiculous lines.

We used to. I used to have the hardest time being in a scene with her when Glee first started. I ruined so many takes because she would be going at me, verbally abusing me, and I would just be cracking up. It was just so hard but over the years, we got into a routine. She's my best friend [from the cast], she is my go-to person who I hang out with outside of the show. We have a great relationship, and I love her. I'm so excited she is going to be making her Broadway debut in Annie next week.

If you were in a movie, who would play you?

I would love a young Paul Newman to play me.

What would be your secret dream job if you didn't do what you do now?

A midwife. That's what my dad does, and I've always had this fascination of helping someone bring a new life into this world and delivering babies.

Mr. Schue needs kids, that's the bottom line.

I know, that is. Let's make it happen. Let's talk to Ryan Murphy.

Who is your Hollywood crush?

Does it have to be in Hollywood? I would say Michelle Obama. She's pretty much the coolest woman on the planet. She is so sweet, so nurturing, and so beautiful. I think she's pretty perfect.

Have you met her?

I have. She smells good, too.

Aside from the endless supply of hair products, what has been the best perk you've received since joining 'Glee?'

The moment when I first new we were a big show, was when we went to Chicago and they had an hour-long Oprah Winfrey episode about Glee. Just meeting her and being on The Oprah Winfrey Show was probably the coolest moment I've ever had thanks to Glee. I always think about that.